The French-speaking presence in the Americas is a historical and geographical reality. The Francophones who live there are in a minority situation on a continental scale and this reality is experienced very differently depending on whether you are in Quebec, in the Canadian Francophonie, in Acadia, in the United States, in Latin America or in the West Indies. The dispersion of French speakers over such a vast territory represents an immense challenge for the future and the influence of the French language on the continent.
In response to this major issue, the government of Quebec, on the proposal of its minister Benoît Pelletier, created, in 2006, the Center for the Francophonie of the Americas, with the unanimous support of the members of the National Assembly. The aim was to provide leadership for a vast mobilization of Francophones and Francophiles in the Americas.
On the occasion of its fifteenth anniversary today, we wish to salute the Centre’s impressive record. Its success is due to the remarkable work carried out by the small teams who have succeeded one another since its implementation in October 2008, as well as to its ability to bring together those who share its values and objectives.
The Centre’s reason for being is even more evident in 2023, because it responds to growing issues and challenges regarding the future of the language that we share with the 33 million Francophones and Francophiles in the Americas.
Since its creation, the Center has gradually built an impressive network of 85,000 members, 300 young ambassadors and some 650 partner institutions with which it has associated itself. Today, more than a hundred activities are carried out annually.
Aware that the French fact in the Americas is fragile and that its future depends on the success of the teaching of and in French as well as the mobilization of new generations, the Center has set up numerous projects aimed at young people. This is the case of the Forum of Young Ambassadors of the Francophonie of the Americas, the French-speaking Youth Parliament of the Americas and multiple initiatives such as the Slame tes accents competition, which runs until November 30 and which invites students to have fun and create in French.
The Library of the Americas responds to a crying need of French speakers who, across the four corners of the continent, struggle to access works in French. Some 18,000 digital books by French-speaking authors, exclusively from the Americas, can be borrowed free of charge.
Thanks to its notoriety, its network and its expertise, the Center for the Francophonie of the Americas was recently entrusted, by the government of Quebec, with the implementation of certain initiatives aimed at the desired rapprochement between Quebec and the Francophonies. including the Francophone Mobilization meeting, organized with the Federation of Francophone and Acadian Communities of Canada.
The French language is one of the great languages of the modern world. It is spoken on all continents, its progress is strong in Africa, but it is today weakened in the Americas. It is the collective commitment of the entire population, associative organizations, institutions and businesses that is necessary to ensure its future, and the Center, a valuable resource serving Francophones and Francophiles in the Americas, is fully committed to this.
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* Signatories: Michel Robitaille, current president of the board of directors of the Center de la francophonie des Amériques and first president and CEO (2008-2010), general delegate of Quebec in New York (2002-2007) and in Paris (2010- 2016).
Diane Blais, president of the board of directors of the Center de la francophonie des Amériques (2015-2018), member of the Conseil supérieur de la langue française (2009-2022), recipient of the Order of Francophones of America.
Clément Duhaime, chairman of the board of directors of the Center de la francophonie des Amériques (2018-2019), general delegate of Quebec in Paris (2000-2005) and administrator of the International Organization of la Francophonie (2005-2015).
Jean-Louis Roy, president of the board of directors of the Center de la francophonie des Amériques (2008-2013), general delegate of Quebec in Paris (1986-1989) and secretary general of the Intergovernmental Agency of La Francophonie (1990-1998 ).